Recent "Virus Warning" in safari

[GilesM]

Recently both my wife, and my brother have been browsing the internet and one particular search engine (different unrelated searches) brought up a window within safari (with a safari icon) that said that the PC contained signs of viruses and malware.
On each occasion I advised them not to click "OK" but to cancel out of the window and shut down safari session. then re-open Safari and go and get "iAntirus for MAC".
Both did so and ran scans neither scan found anything on either machine.

I am thinking that this is a trap laid to catch out PC users and have them download some king of nasty.
Being as this is a MAC environment and that I have had both machines scanned with no result, am I correct? Is this a trap or is it a genuine Safari warning?

 

[glenncal]

It's a trap for pc users. Your Mac isn't infected at all, so no worries

 

[old-wiz]

and not the best English either!

 

[sushi]

Bogus. Trap. Spam.

 

[GilesM]

Thank you all very much, just as I thought.
Thanks again!

 

[gilbert1020]

Recently both my wife, and my brother have been browsing the internet and one particular search engine (different unrelated searches) brought up a window within safari (with a safari icon) that said that the PC contained signs of viruses and malware.
On each occasion I advised them not to click "OK" but to cancel out of the window and shut down safari session. then re-open Safari and go and get "iAntirus for MAC".
Both did so and ran scans neither scan found anything on either machine.

I am thinking that this is a trap laid to catch out PC users and have them download some king of nasty.
Being as this is a MAC environment and that I have had both machines scanned with no result, am I correct? Is this a trap or is it a genuine Safari warning?

Definatly bogus.
The wording it uses gives it away
A "free scan" ?
Why would they say free?

 

[GilesM]

Thanks all, this must be spread widely if you consider that it was just coincidence that my brother and wife came across it quite independently!

Poor old PC users, I wonder how many have been caught out.

 

[MacDawg]

It IS widespread and a PIA

Woof, Woof - Dawg

 

[EmperorDarius]

I think the should do an OS check before displaying that stuff.

 

[PeteB]

I think the should do an OS check before displaying that stuff.

Given the large market share of MS (and basic gullibility), it doesn't really matter. Enough people will click on the link to download the trojan payload.

 

[i.shaun]

first time I've seen a pop up, that's smart. Usually the warnings come in little windows that have a picture of a popup (you can see an "x" in the corner, then a title bar with an "x" above that)


Not to mention most ads are old and designed with the old grey box style that windows used to use. I doubt those ads are as effective in XP or Vista. An actual window like that will trick a lot of people.


Oh well, as long as you know what Anti-virus software you run on PC (or mac), you should be safe. That is, if you have Norton, and the pop up isn't from Norton, it should be ignored.

 

[Eraserhead]

An actual window like that will trick a lot of people.

I assume its a Javascript alert that will look native on any platform.

 

[Jethryn Freyman]

It's a trap for Windows users.

 

[Eilissa]

oops

I have been searching for something about this because tonight I got that message on my MacBook. I understand that you said it's for Windows users. However I stupidly did not read the pop up box and instead pressed "ok". I am assuming if it was made for Windows I am perfectly ok, I just want to make sure. Sorry if this seems like a dumb question, I would just rather look silly than something be wrong.

 

[bchgoer]

I wonder about this for a windows mount

If I have windows mounted through bootcamp, but I am actively using OSX, would the potential virus attach itself to the windows mount? I am running 10.5, but also have XP on the flip side. Makes you wonder, hmmmm...

 

[tdgrn]

Unless you are using your Windows partition, you will not be affected by viruses. Don't worry about it if you are using OS X

 

[Jethryn Freyman]

I have been searching for something about this because tonight I got that message on my MacBook. I understand that you said it's for Windows users. However I stupidly did not read the pop up box and instead pressed "ok". I am assuming if it was made for Windows I am perfectly ok, I just want to make sure. Sorry if this seems like a dumb question, I would just rather look silly than something be wrong.

You're fine.

A trojan has to be written for OS X to affect it, and you have to download it, open it, and install it, using an administrator password.

 

[Pika]

With JavaScript, you can create all kinds of fake popup windows.